Violin damper device



April 6 ,1926. 1,579,827

' B. E. MILLS vIoLIn Duma nvicz Filed nay 12, 1924 Patented Apr. 6, 1.926.

i UNITED lSTATES y A asma PATENT orifice.

BERTIE E. MILLS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO MILLS NOVELTY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, `A CORPORATION OF'ILLINOIS.

vIoLrn nAMrnn DEVICE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnn'rin E. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Violin Damper Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to a damper'device which is especially useful `1n connection with electrically played violins, or electrically operated stringed instruments of the viol class. Y

The primary object is to provide simple and effective means for preventing an obj ectionable after tone in such an instrument.

In a well-knowninstrument lof the type referred to, the note .is sounded by means of a rotary bow which engages the string, and the fingering is performed by fingerlevers controlled by electromagnets. The bow-magnet is in series with the fingermagnet. Vhen the linger is disengaged from the string, the bow, due to lag, may not leave they string at'the same instant. Thus, there may occur an after tone which does not correspond with the tone of the note struck. Y

According to the present invention, a single damper is employed which engages the strings in advance of the fingering devices. This damper normally engages all of the lstrings andprevents the sounding of an after tone, following the playing of any fingered note on any string. The arrangement is such, however, that when an open string note is sounded, the damper will be lifted from the strings, thus allowing the open note to be sounded, after which the damper` returns to its normal position 1n engagement with the strings.

The invention may be usefully employed in a self-playing violin machine, in which a note-sheet controls the playing of the notes; or, it may be usefully employed in connection with an electrically operated stringed instrument, in which the playing of the notes is controlled from a console provided with a suitable key-manual.

'Ihe invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, which shows diagrammatically a portion of a. stringed instrument and the improved damper device applied thereto.

In the illustration given, A represents. the neck-portion of a violin; B, the strings a self-playing violin machine; and G, a

note-sheet which is fed across the trackerbar.

yThe note-sheet is shown provided with open string slots 1, and fingered string slots 2. The corresponding contacts a-re desig-` nated 1"L and 2a. Referring to the electric circuits, the positive main is designated 8, andthe negative main is -designated il. The conductor 8 connects with the winding of the magnet C', and from said winding a conductor 3a extends, which is provided with a branch 31 leading to the magnet D', anda branch 3c leading to the magnet E. From thev magnet D', a conductor 5 leadsto the contact 2a; and from the magnet E', a conductor 6 leadsto the contact la;

lllhen the brush, or contact, 2a encounters the slot 2 corresponding withV a fingered note, a circuit is closed, and current passes through the magnet C', and through the magnet D', thence to the brush 2a and tracker-bar F to the negative `main 4. In the mean time,y the damper ,E remains in contact with all of the strings of the instru-l ment, thus preventing the sounding of an after tone after the circuit has been interrupted. Such interruption of the circuit permits the finger D to be lifted from the string and permits the bow to be lifted from the string. As stated, however, there may be a lag in the lifting of the bow from the string, and thus the damper E will serve to prevent the sounding of an objectionable after tone.

When the brush li encounters a slot l corresponding with an open string` note, a circuit is closed through the magnet C and magnet E', whereupon the magnet E lifts the damper E from the strings, permitting the open note to be sounded.

In the. circuit diagram, la designates a branch connected with the negative main 4L by means of a switch 4b; 52L designates a conductor leading from the conductor 5 to the branch 4a; and 6a designates a conductor leading from the conductor 6 to the branch 4a. Interposed in the course of the conductor 5a is a pair of switch points 7, these points being separated from each other by an insulating strip 7a. Interposed in the course of the conductor 6a is a pair of switch points 8, these points being separated by an insulation block 8a.

H represents a key equipped with a contact member H vWhich is adapted to close the circuit through the conductor 5EL When the key is depressed. I represents a key which is adapted to close the circuit through the conductor 6a When the key is depressed. The keys I-I and I may be regarded as keys in a key-manual mounted on a suitable console. By employing keys and connections, just described, (assuming the switch ab to be closed) the circuits through the magnets C', D, and E may be controlled from the keymanual, Which thus takes the place of the tracker-bar, note-sheet, and co-acting brushes. Thus, When the key H is depressed, a lingered note is struck, the

damper E remaining on the strings; and

when the key I is struck, an open note is sounded, and, at the same time, the circuit through the magnet E is closed, thus causing the damper E to be lifted.

The damper E is shown as comprising a lever 9 supported on a pivot 9a; and a spring 10 Which serves normally to hold the damper in contact with the strings. One end of the lever is equipped with a string-engaging member 9b, Which may be of rubber. The other end 9c may constitute the armature of the electromagnet E. lhen the magnet E is energized, the contact strip 9b Will be lifted clear from the strings, thus permitting an open note to be sounded.

The improved damper device is simple, readily controlled, and eifective for its purpose. The construction and arrangement may be variously modiied.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

IVhat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In means of the character set forth, the combination With a plurality of strings, of a damper device normally engaging all the strings in advance of the fingering device, and means for actuating' said damper device to free the strings from such engagement in the operation of playing upon any string as an open string.

2. In means of the character set forth, a single damper normally bearing upon all the strings, a magnet adapted to Withdraw said damper, a circuit for said magnet, and means for closing said circuit in the operation of playing an o'pen string note.

3. In means of the character set forth, a bow-magnet and a linger-magnet, a damper normally engaging all the strings of a stringed instrument, a damper-magnet, and circuits for said magnets and circuit-controlling means adapted to cause said bow-magnet and said damper-magnet to operate in playing an open string and to cause only said finger-magnet and said bow-magnet to operate in playing a fingered note.

Il. In means of the character set forth, the combination With a plurality of strings, of a damper lever adapted to' engage all of said strings, a damper-retracting magnet, and circuit-controlling means for the damper-magnet operating When closed to cause said magnet to retract said lever and free said strings.

BERTIE E. MILLS. 

